Retainer



Sept. 18, 1962 M. s. ERB

RETAINER Filed Nov. 28, 1960 Q 7 Flilli/z.

JNVENTOR. MARTIN 5. ERB BY 9 4 a QM ATTORNEY rates This invention relates generally to containers for coils of wire and more particularly to means associated with a wire container to retain a coil therein in desired position relative to the container.

Heretofore, wire containers have been provided on hay balers to hold wire coils for supplying tying mechanisms. Each container is adapted to hold one wire coil, the sides and periphery of the container engaging the sides and periphery of the coil when the coil is new. Such engagement keeps the coil in proper relation relative to the container. Conventionally, wire is drawn from the coil beginning at the center thereof and progressing radially outwardly. As the volume of wire decreases, the stability of the coil decreases and when the last portion of the wire is reached, such as the last five or ten percent of the coil, there is a tendency for the coil to collapse. If the coil collapses too soon, the wires sometimes become tangled and wire cannot be withdrawn from the container. To untangle the wire is time consuming and often results in a portion of the wire being cut and thrown away.

One object of this invention is to provide, in connection with a container for a coil of wire, means to hold the coil in desired relation to the container regardless of the amount of wire which has been withdrawn from the coil.

Another object of this invention is to provide coil retaining means operative to hold the coil in such a manner that there will be no interference with the withdrawal of wire from the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide wire retaining means of the character described which is of simple construction, easily installed and/ or replaced regardless of the type of container employed.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a wire container having coil containing means constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wire retaining member.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, denotes a coil of wire having a free end 11 at the core thereof whereby wire may be withdrawn from the coil. The coil is mounted in a sheet metal wire container 12 having spaced sides 14 and 15 and a peripheral portion 16. The sides of the container extend in parallel planes and they have coaxial openings 18. The free end 11 extends through the opening 18 in side wall 14 so that wire may be withdrawn from the container. Side 15 has an angular flange 20 spot welded or otherwise afiixed to the peripheral portion 16 to thereby fixedly connect the side to the container. Side 14 is detachably connected to the peripheral portion 16 by a pair of pins 21, carried on portion inc 16, which project through openings 22 in a flange portion 24 of side 14. Cooperative with the pins 21 to hold side 14 in place is detachable latch means comprising a tab 26 on the peripheral portion 16 and cars 28 on side 14. Tab 26 and ears 23 are interconnected by a cotter pin 29. When the cotter pin 29 is removed, the portion of side 14 adjacent thereto can be removed from the peripheral portions 16 and the upper portion of the side can be unhooked from the pins 21.

When the side 14 is removed, coil 10 can be mounted inside the container. Thereafter, the side 14 is adapted to be replaced and detachably connected to the structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, coil 10 seats on the bottom 31 of peripheral portion 16 and when the coil is new the sides thereof engage the sides 15 and 14 of the container. This engagement of the container with the coil retains the coil in desired position. Commonly, container 12 is mounted so that the sides 14 and 15 extend vertically. When so disposed there is a space 32 between the upper periphery of coil 1:; and the inside wall of the top 33 of the peripheral portion 16. To prevent the wire from collapsing when all but the last five or ten percent of the coil has been withdrawn from container 12, coil retaining means is provided in the space 32. The retaining means comprises a pair of permanent magnets 35 which are elongate and channel shaped. Each magnet extends from adjacent side wall 14 to a point adjacent the side wall 15. The magnets traverse the space 32 and engage the periphery of the coil 19. Each magnet has a pair of tapped holes 36 which receive fastening screws 38 for connecting the magnets to the wire container. The magnets have an energy product or magnetic strength sufficient to hold the coils of wire from falling in the container 12 but weak enough to enable wire to be readily withdrawn from the container.

When the coil of wire 10 is new, the engagement of the coil with the sides and periphery of the container 12 supports the coil. However, when a substantial portion of the coil has then withdrawn and the coil is reduced to a small remaining portion, the magnet means in the form of the pair of magnets engaging the periphery of the coil hold the strands thereof from collapsing in the container. Thus, the problem of tangled wire is obviated.

in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, two magnets are shown. However, if desired one magnet could be used or more than two magnets could be employed. Also, instead of magnets being employed, it is possible that the container or the coil itself could be magnetized to hold the coil in desired relation to the container. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A container for a coil of wire and from which wire may be drawn, said container having relatively spaced, vertically extending side walls and a peripheral portion interconnecting said side walls, a coil within said container resting on the bottom of said peripheral portion, there being a space between the coil and the top of the container, and one of said side walls having an opening for wire withdrawal, in combination with a bar magnet inside said container and connected to said top section, 5 said magnet projecting across said space and engaging said coil to restrain the coil from collapsing after the major portion of wire in the coil has been withdrawn.

2. A container for a coil of wire as recited in claim 1 wherein said magnet is elongate and extends from adja- 10 cent said one side wall to the other side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cook Mar. 27, 1934 Draper et a1 May 19, 1942 Case Dec. 21,1948 Dvorak July 5, 1949 Teetor May 16, 1950 Shumway Feb. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 26, 1928 

